I was a little disappointed by The Pilot's endorsement of Jamie Boles. I agree that Moore County is blessed to have two excellent candidates to choose from. But I submit that a more careful examination of the facts shows Betty Mangum to be the better choice.

The Pilot wrote, " ... we prefer Boles, who would bring a businessman's sense to the complex budget issues that are certain to dominate legislative deliberations in this time of economic upheaval and uncertainty."

Perhaps. But it seems unlikely that the budgeting for a chain of funeral homes is comparable to budgeting for the state. But budgeting for Moore County (one of the state's largest, fastest-growing and most populous counties) is comparable. That is the budgeting experience Mangum brings.

The Pilot also says, "Small businesses are the bedrock of the North Carolina economy, and that's a subject Boles knows intimately."

This is also true. But it's just as true that we live in a changing economy and that the education of new talent and re-education of displaced workers is vitally important.

Mangum's experience as a teacher and as an education administrator makes her a much stronger candidate in this critical area.

Moreover, business acumen is not an accurate predictor of effectiveness in government. We've just witnessed eight years of "the first CEO president." Not many of us are better off for it.

Boles is a great guy, and it's admirable that he dreams of public service. But we don't elect our representatives to help them realize their dreams, we elect them in the hope that we and our children can realize our dreams.

The candidate with the time, the energy and the relevant experience to help us best to do that in the 52nd District is Mangum.

Kevin Smith

Aberdeen